Worthy???

[Peanutterrier2009]

6, July 2011

Worthy???

I had some thoughts on the idea of worthiness. What does it mean to be worthy? To be competent, reliable, above reproach or meet the minimum requirements set forth. What is it to be worthy in God's eyes? Jesus summed this up for us. To be perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect. In the latter case, none of us are worthy. Can anyone honestly say they are worthy to stand before God? Not I... Thus, a few questions I must ask of myself; Am I doing the best I can? -Honestly, not likely ... Am I doing as well as any other? -I really can't say... Am I following the teachings of the church and meeting my obligations, as I understand them at this time? -That, I am doing. Am I trying to grow, am I seeking, reading and studying? -For the most part, yes!... Do I want to do better and do I know, I'm falling short of where I could be? -YES! Am I doing better than I was? -YES!

So what is it to be worthy? I'm not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. However, I am open to being perfected. I fail and could likely do better at any given time. But, I'm doing better than I was. Will I ever really be worthy? Not by God's or my standards, as long as I live on this earth. The question then becomes, "Am I worthy enough?" I suppose, if I'm doing all those things I was instructed to do and not doing those things I was warned against doing; I meet the minimum qualifaction for a 'degree' of worthiness. So then, it comes down to a question of how worthy must one be? Far be it from me to even suppose that I have the insight to make such a determination. This then becomes a matter for one with far greater wisdom and insight than one such as I.... In summation, it's not really up to me. The answer to the question, as to whether I am worthy or not, ultimatly lies firmly and safely, out of my hands.

I don't know why I'm so nervous about this Temple recommend interview. I know kids get through this process all the time, without too much difficulty. It's not even a full recommend. I am going down to baptizems for the dead. I can't go for my endowment for at least 10 more months. Never-the-less, I'm a bit nervous about the whole matter.

[LDSJewess]

6, July 2011

Worthy???

I had some thoughts on the idea of worthiness. What does it mean to be worthy? To be competent, reliable, above reproach or meet the minimum requirements set forth. What is it to be worthy in God's eyes? Jesus summed this up for us. To be perfect, as our Heavenly Father is perfect. In the latter case, none of us are worthy. Can anyone honestly say they are worthy to stand before God? Not I... Thus, a few questions I must ask of myself; Am I doing the best I can? -Honestly, not likely ... Am I doing as well as any other? -I really can't say... Am I following the teachings of the church and meeting my obligations, as I understand them at this time? -That, I am doing. Am I trying to grow, am I seeking, reading and studying? -For the most part, yes!... Do I want to do better and do I know, I'm falling short of where I could be? -YES! Am I doing better than I was? -YES!

So what is it to be worthy? I'm not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. However, I am open to being perfected. I fail and could likely do better at any given time. But, I'm doing better than I was. Will I ever really be worthy? Not by God's or my standards, as long as I live on this earth. The question then becomes, "Am I worthy enough?" I suppose, if I'm doing all those things I was instructed to do and not doing those things I was warned against doing; I meet the minimum qualifaction for a 'degree' of worthiness. So then, it comes down to a question of how worthy must one be? Far be it from me to even suppose that I have the insight to make such a determination. This then becomes a matter for one with far greater wisdom and insight than one such as I.... In summation, it's not really up to me. The answer to the question, as to whether I am worthy or not, ultimatly lies firmly and safely, out of my hands.

I don't know why I'm so nervous about this Temple recommend interview. I know kids get through this process all the time, without too much difficulty. It's not even a full recommend. I am going down to baptizems for the dead. I can't go for my endowment for at least 10 more months. Never-the-less, I'm a bit nervous about the whole matter.

Hi Peanutterrier,

First of all I want to say I am so excited for you in your making plans to attend the Temple. Your enthusiasm is an inspiration to me and it helps me to renew in my mind the feelings when I entered the Temple for the first time, (and yes the nervousness of that first Temple recommend interview).

Are you perfect. No. Perfection is something that we hope to attain some day, perhaps not in this life but through our progression.

Are you Temple worthy? I think your interview will go wonderfully and the answer would then be yes.

Being perfect and being worthy is not the same thing. If you are paying your full tithe, living according to the words of wisdom and the law of chastity, and if you sustain the authorities of the church; those are the basics. From there you continue to pray, read your scriptures, attend church and continue to strive to be the best you can be.

And keep in mind that none of us are worthy to stand before our Heavenly Father ALONE. So that is what Jesus is for. He paid the price for us so that standing before Heavenly Father is possible.

I wish you all the best in your interview. You really are at the threshold of a wonderful and amazing journey. :)

[Guest Sachi001]

IMO if you feel good about being honest in your answers, and answer by the spirit, and not hiding truths toward a representative of the Lord then you will do fine. You will be worthy.

Also kudos for taking steps back to the temple even if it's for being a proxy.

Edited July 9, 2011 by Sachi001

[friedmann]

Hello,

I know exactly how you feel - But if you are strong in your Faith and you really live your life the way you just described it, you'll be fine for your Temple recommend interview. Be aware that your Bishop knows you and your "worthy" lifestyle (since, as you explained, we don't exactly know what worthiness actually is, this judgement is a little vague) and that he wants the best for you like he wants it for each member - And if you keep this awareness throughout both interviews, you will be just fine.

Now, how would I define worthiness? It's important for everyone to do by themselves and to live those standards. Worthiness, first of all, isn't a matter of perfection at first try. No man, other than our Savior Jesus Christ, could ever keep up those standards. Rather than instant perfection, it is also about making mistakes, realizing you made mistakes, returning from them and trying to not make them ever again. Our Heavenly Father wants us to grow during our life on Earth, and the process of sinning and returning is essential for growth.

Worthiness shows off through living the Gospel. The Word of Wisdom for example is a part of D&C you should always obey to (there are others, mentionned above). It doesn't only tell you what to do in order to "stay in physical shape", but it also tells you that you, as a person, are worthy being protected from potential bad influences. Actually the Word of Wisdom (and parts of the Sermon of the Mount) might end up being the most important pieces of scripture to define worthiness, since the people who are worthy are arguably those who will also receive the biggest blessings in the Kingdom of God. If you follow the doctrine of the Church, it being the doctrine of Jesus Christ, not because you regard it as a law, but because you wholeheartedly know that it's true and right, you will be worthy. Temptations don't spoil worthiness, but giving in to them does.

Worthiness also shows off through treating others, and this is where perfection becomes impossible for us. Sometime, everyone of us will fail treating all the people who surround us the way Jesus Christ treated the people who surrounded him. It's maybe again not a worthy attitude of me, but I just think it's human (which also helps me not being upset when I'm not treated the way I'd like to be, which is frequently). My suggestion is just to try your best. Share your love, your support, and the Gospel the best you can. Bringing joy to others is an essential step to fulfill the Plan of Salvation.

As I said, those three paragraphs were nothing but my own thoughts, and others might have better suggestions/definitions. I can only say that this is my personal worthiness guideline and that it has worked very well for me so far.

Sincerely :)

[LittleWyvern]

I've often asked myself the same questions (those of you who were on this board before I left on my mission know this ). Something that's helped me when I'm not sure of my own worthiness is to evaluate myself not based on a fixed point, but relative to my own worthiness. So, to me, the question isn't "Am I worthy enough?" but "Am I a better person than I was 3 months ago? 6 months ago? A year ago?" To me, perfection is a direction rather than a destination, because progression never ends.

[Peanutterrier2009]

@Sachi001. It's not back to the Temple. I've never been there. Sorry, I'm a convert... I'm just an old Catholic that relized something was missing along time ago. From there, I spent time in almost every Christian denomination. I was baptized in April of this year and met the Holy Spirirt in a very real way for the first time in my life. I now know it is about a feeling!!!

[Peanutterrier2009]

@LittleWyvern: Thanks so much... My desire to do better is stronge. That's a good way to look at things. I am doing better and continue to move forward and learn more.

[Blocky]

I would like to share something special that happened to me when I went to my temple recommend interview for when I was going to the temple for the very first time.

When the bishop asked me if I considered myself worthy in every way I hesitated. My mind was flooded with all the ways I wasn't worthy/perfect. There were so many things and they ran through my head quite often. All the things I could do better at, all the things I do that are wrong, the things I need to do but don't, how I'm not loving enough, don't read my scriptures as thoroughly as I should, how I get frustrated with people so often etc. Then I felt the Spirit so strongly, and it told me I was worthy to go to the temple. There was no denying that was what it was saying. To say I wasn't worthy would be to deny what the Spirit was Yelling at me, that I was.

To be worthy to go to the temple doesn't mean you're perfect. We need to be humble and recognize our short comings but then have faith that our Savior will help us the rest of the way. We need to have faith that repentance is real, that our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to repent and that he will not remember our sins. We need to be honest with our fellow men, but also with ourselves. We're not asked to be perfect, yet. We're asked to keep trying, to keep moving forward in the right direction, to rely on the Lord.